Neck Ornament (Ibheqe or Umphapheni)

Zulu

1 of 2

Object Label

Although beaded adornment using many materials existed in southern Africa well before contact with Europeans, elaborate glass beadwork made with small, uniform “seed beads” emerged with exposure to European trade beads and sewing techniques. By sewing beads together, Zulu women developed a new artistic tradition of making “bead fabric,” which often replaced clothing made from skins or cloth.

Different color and pattern combinations form a visual language that can identify the wearer’s ethnic group, gender, social status, romantic attachments, or other personal messages. This was a particularly important means of marking identity in the shifting social landscape of nineteenth- and twentieth-century South Africa. Today, wearing beadwork continues to be a means of self-expression throughout southern Africa.

Caption

Zulu. Neck Ornament (Ibheqe or Umphapheni), mid to late 19th century. Glass beads, sinew, 11 1/2 × 7 1/4 × 1/2 in. (29.2 × 18.4 × 1.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Herman Eggers, 45.125.10. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 45.125.10_acetate_bw.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Arts of Africa

Culture

Zulu

Title

Neck Ornament (Ibheqe or Umphapheni)

Date

mid to late 19th century

Medium

Glass beads, sinew

Classification

Accessory

Dimensions

11 1/2 × 7 1/4 × 1/2 in. (29.2 × 18.4 × 1.3 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Herman Eggers

Accession Number

45.125.10

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

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